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Ceop today published a report warning that anyone caught downloading child abuse images online poses a risk of committing physical sex attacks on children. The report said that one analysis showed 55% of pedophiles who possess indecent images also commit sexual offences against children.

"The images being downloaded are increasingly becoming more extreme, sadistic and violent and feature increasingly younger children."

– Kate Fisher - principal analyst at CEOP

However, the severity and number of images held by offenders are not enough alone to assess the risk they pose or the sentence they should receive, the report said. Ceop urged police forces to prioritise the investigation of anyone caught with child abuse images who has easy access to children.

Five children have been taken into police protection in South Yorkshire because of the poor conditions they were living in. The move came during raids by police across the region on suspected internet paedophiles.

As part of Operation Tharsley, South Yorkshire Police have arrested nine men from around the county. The men were arrested on suspicion of possession of indecent images of children and their computers were seized during the raids.

In addition, the searches led to five children being taken into police protection due to the poor conditions they were found living in. The men, aged between 44 and 60-years-old have been released on police bail whilst investigations continue.

The Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre is dedicated to eradicating the sexual abuse of children. They are part of UK policing and very much about tracking and bringing offenders to account. More about the work they do here.